What is the best pro team kit ever? I’m talking team kit only, not a leader’s jersey, national team jersey or the national champion jersey. Not the worst either, for those are legion and worthy of a much longer article than this. @wiscot and I exchanged emails about Urs Freuler and the fantastic Atala kit which led to quick discussion of best kits. He threw out Skil Shimano and La Vie Clair as kits to consider. It’s hard to disassociate the kit from the rider. Maybe the Orange Molteni kit would be rubbish if Lord Merckx didn’t own it for years. It’s also hard to come up with a great modern kit: too many sponsors, too much sublimation. Were wool kits nicer? Maybe they were in their simplicity, maybe more iconic. Sky’s kit was a excellent change for it’s uncluttered design and in years to come we may look back on it with as much admiration as we do a Molteni kit. But since that reedy weed Froome killed my VSP hopes recently, that jersey is dead to me, forever.
Here are a few nice ones. I’m sure I’ve left many nicer ones out. Let the arguing begin.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/j.andrews3@comcast.net/Best Kit Ever/”/]
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@ErikdR Great stuff! Props for posting the pic. I'm sure there are more than a few Velominati who wouldn't post such a picture! I still regret not buying a long-sleeved Peugeot jersey that hung in the window of Dooley's Cycles in Paisley back in the early 80s. It looked so pro.
Shorts were cut shorter back them and they had no grippers. Real chamois was literally a pain in the ass. Chafed like hell and provided next to no padding after a few washes. My first cycling shoes looked like yours - mine were flat-soled Rivats. touring shoes I think. Then I got some badass Vittorias - all leather including the sole. Good times indeed - but I still don't want to turn the clock back.
@wiscot @Nate Thanks
Haha... yes: those black shoes in the picture had flat, all-leather soles - slippery as hell on smooth surfaces, I never went for the shoe-plates for some reason - just pulled the straps of the toe-clips tighter (and got numb feet as a result, of course...)
My Peugeot bicycle weighed in at 13,8 kilograms or thereabouts - and I seriously considered it to be a 'racing bike'! It was actually scary as hell in fast decents, as the frame flexed hugely while cornering - but on the long and straight, it performed beautifully.
@ChrisO
Chris, I must be very naive and/or stupid, or lacking in my command of the English language, because your remark about 'paying for the jersey' went completely over my head initially - I'm not even sure I completely understand it now, but am I right in assuming that you think I look like a 'moneyboy' in that picture? (If so, I can only respect your vastly superior knowledge of such matters...)
Personally, I just think I jook like a bit of a softie - but for the record, and in spite of the fact that it doesn't really make any difference one way or the other as far as I'm concerned: I'm straight.
Christ on a raft, when will I learn to check my posts for spelling? That should have been "...think I LOOK like a bit of a softie..." of course. Argh. Over and out for today.
Best post Olympics kit - ever:
@ErikdR
Funny bunch of comments here. You were wise to blow money on that jersey back then. Who wouldn't? I had a Peugeot PX-10 le. No idea what the "le" was about. Same fucked French parts on it. Heavy, yes. It rode well and looked fantastic because the 60 cm frame came in champagne gold. It was nice.
Thanks for posting the photo, funny stuff. There should be a picture of me looking about as intimidating in wool shorts and a less interesting jersey and longer hair.
I have no idea what a money boy is.
@sthilzy
Looks like he's been sleeping in his uniform and at some stage someone has thrown some medals at him...
@Gianni
Ah yes, the Peugeot PX10LE... Didn't you use a photo of that bike (or one like it) as the header for an article you did at some point, called 'Bikeography'? I may be totally wrong about this, but the 'LE' in the name could have been an abbreviation og 'LEGÈRE' - indicating that the 'LE' type bikes/frames were made of better - and lighter - tubing?
My orange UO8 (64 cm frame) was made of what those French geniuses called High-Carbon steel - I believe that is about the equivalent of what Frank refers to as recycled boat anchors. Still, I took that bike (and the jersey, and about 10 kg of luggage in panniers) over the Lautaret and the Galibier in '79 and, a year later, over the Gross-Glockner in Austria - and it performed admirably (except on the descents, as previously mentioned).
BTW, I figured that perhaps a former Peugeot afficionado like yourself might find the following article of interest:
http://gyroscopethattakesyouplaces.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/my-mid-life-crisis-rides-an-old-french-bike/
@ErikdR
That's an amazing link, thanks. Interesting about the LE too as the bike was not light, the lugs were very unexceptional and it sure looked like another factory Peugeot frame. Maybe light compared to recycled boat anchors.
I tried touring on my peugeot: tent, stove, sleeping bag, food, tools. FFS, it was so heavy I could barely pick it up if it fell over. I quit after two days.
Not much sucks more than this poor guy (does he not realize YOU CAN SWITCH TEAMS?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=448462655197671&set=a.448462208531049.93798.151307621579844&type=1&theater